Fate's Enmity

Chapter 4

The palace courtyard was a whirlwind of noise and activity, with nobles draped in fine silks and servants rushing to fill goblets with wine. The banquet celebrating the upcoming royal decision was in full swing, but for some, the real event was the brewing tension beneath the glittering surface.

Weiyun Wu's sharp gaze followed Prince Tianlong as he navigated through the crowd. Dressed in an elegant green robe with intricate golden embroidery, she was determined to catch his attention tonight. With a polite smile, she glided towards him, her voice sweet and confident.

"My Prince, I must say, the arrangements tonight are exquisite. Everything from the music to the decor is a perfect reflection of your taste," Weiyun said, standing gracefully by his side.

Prince Tianlong turned to her, his mismatched green and red eyes briefly meeting hers, but his focus quickly drifted. He nodded politely, but his mind seemed far away, preoccupied. "Thank you, Lady Weiyun. I appreciate the compliment," he said, though his voice lacked any real engagement.

Weiyun didn't notice his distant tone at first, continuing with more flattery. "I'm sure the entire realm is eager to see who you choose. Your decision will be a monumental one, and—"

Before she could finish, Tianlong's attention wavered completely. He spotted Jinhai Wu standing by the entrance, looking awkward and out of place in the crowd. Excusing himself with a simple, "Pardon me," he moved away from Weiyun, much to her surprise and quiet frustration.

Jinhai, noticing the prince approaching, straightened up in surprise. "Your Highness," he said, bowing slightly, unsure of why the prince was coming over to him.

Tianlong gave him a tired smile. "I needed a break from all the... talking." He glanced back toward the crowd. "Seems like everyone here is trying to impress me."

Jinhai nodded. "Can't blame them. You're kind of a big deal right now."

The prince chuckled softly, clearly appreciating Jinhai's more casual tone. "Yeah, I guess. But honestly, I just want some peace." He looked around the banquet with a sigh, then back at Jinhai. "Have you ever felt like everyone wants something from you, but no one really sees you?"

Jinhai hesitated, unsure how to respond. "I guess... in my family, it's like that. Everyone expects something. But, no... nothing like what you're going through."

Tianlong nodded. "Yeah, it's... complicated." They stood in companionable silence for a moment before the prince added, "You're lucky, though. No one's trying to force you into a marriage."

Jinhai gave a faint smile, glancing back towards Weiyun, who was now busy mingling elsewhere. "Lucky... sure." He wasn't sure how much longer he could avoid his own family's expectations.

Jinhai glanced nervously around, feeling the weight of the moment. He hadn't expected the prince to single him out. Despite their casual conversation, the words hung heavy between them. The expectations that lay on Prince Tianlong's shoulders were impossible to ignore.

Before either of them could continue, a commotion at the other side of the hall caught their attention.

At the far end of the banquet, Lianhua Xiang stood poised, her gaze fixed on Weizhe Wu, who had just entered the hall with Zixuan Fang. Her dark purple hair, nearly black, flowed elegantly down her back, adorned with delicate silver hairpins that caught the light. She wore an exquisite red and gold robe that accentuated her figure, signaling her intention to impress the prince. Lianhua narrowed her eyes at Weizhe, a smirk forming on her lips.

"Is he really walking around with his arm bandaged up like he's a war hero?" Lianhua muttered to Sheng Li, who stood by her side, trying not to look amused.

Sheng Li chuckled, casting a sideways glance at Weizhe. "He's trying to make a point. Probably wants everyone to ask him what happened so he can brag about how he survived a fight with you."

Lianhua huffed. "As if I couldn't have finished him off if I wanted to."

Nearby, Weizhe strolled confidently into the hall, despite the bandages wrapping his arm. His light blue robe flowed elegantly as he moved through the crowd with Zixuan by his side, both dressed far more extravagantly than the occasion called for.

Weizhe caught Lianhua's glare and grinned. "Ah, Xiang. Here to injure me again?" he said mockingly as he approached.

Lianhua crossed her arms, her expression sharp. "Here to make yourself feel clever, correcting my mistakes again?"

Weizhe smirked, adjusting the sleeve of his robe. "Well, someone has to. Though, I'm surprised you didn't finish me off last time. Afraid you'd regret it?"

"Regret?" Lianhua raised an eyebrow, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I was giving you a head start."

Before Weizhe could reply, Sheng Li and Zixuan exchanged looks. Sheng Li rolled his eyes, muttering, "Shut up," while Zixuan smirked to himself, clearly entertained by the back-and-forth.

But the tension between Lianhua and Weizhe was soon interrupted by the sound of a gong reverberating through the hall. The room fell into a hush as all eyes turned toward Prince Tianlong, who had returned to the centre of the room, Jinhai standing quietly by his side.

Tianlong raised a hand to quiet the murmurs. "Thank you all for coming tonight," he began, his voice carrying over the crowd. "As you know, in one month's time, I will be making my decision regarding who will become my spouse."

The announcement sent a ripple of excitement through the room. Weiyun Wu, standing near the front, practically glowed with anticipation, her eyes flicking between the prince and Jinhai..

Lianhua stiffened, her gaze darting to Weizhe, who gave her a knowing look.

Tianlong continued, "The person I choose will not only become my partner but will also receive the greatest gift our realm has to offer—the jade of immortality."

Whispers broke out among the crowd. Everyone knew what the prince was referring to—the jade that could grant immortality to its bearer and their family. It was the ultimate prize, one that everyone had been vying for since the prince's announcement of his search for a spouse.

Tianlong's eyes scanned the room, resting briefly on Jinhai before moving on. "I ask for your patience in the coming weeks, as the decision will not be easy. But rest assured, it will be made."

With that, the crowd erupted into low murmurs, excitement and anticipation spreading through the room like wildfire. Lianhua glanced at Weizhe, her eyes narrowing. The competition for the prince's favour had just begun.